The Delta independent., 1887-01-04
SUMMER yIs,..rops


of small house out OF town. cottage
two stories in height and about twelve
feet square, with small cabbage gar
den i'll the rear and grape vine and a
cherry tree in the front yard. We had
never owned any property before. and
we couldn't help feeling little proud
of this, though, like Morleena Kenwigs.
we had been taught that it was ''sinful. ="
Come down and pay us visit" we
had said to every one with whom we
shook hands, as we bade farewell to
the city; .come in and see our little
place in strawberry time" And every
one had answered.
1--WE shall be delighted"
Our parlor, with its Indian mating
and white curtains and spider-legged
chairs, was a model of airy comfort
There were always flowers in glasses on
the mantle, and there was bird in q
cage in the window. Peggy, the '.girl. :"
did the work. and my wife was always
fresh and bright in her white muslins
and knots of ribbons and flowers. She
was growing plump. too. and Mrs.
Turtledove looked well when she was
plump. was thinking of these things
with satisfaction as opened the gate
of my garden one night and almost
stumbled over Mrs. Turtledove, who,
with glass dish in her hand, was bend
ing over the strawberry bed.
"Oh, Timonr' she exclaimed, as l
saluted her, ''do help me, please. I'm
trying to get enough ripe berries for
tea. After Dragging SO, 1 don't want
Miss Mittens to go back to the city and
say she didn't have any. Miss Mittens
came down by the noon train, dear"
did shep" said l. .Ah, well,
pleased to see her. I'm sure"
"Yes. of course. Timon," said my
wife, very slowly. "And hope there's
milk enough. She says she's going to
live on milk. now she is in the coun-
try"
Now, we did not keep COW, and
we had almost been obliged to 60 on
our knees to Farmer Fish to induce
him to spare us his quart day. "He
always liked to send full cans down by
the train," he said, and he and Mrs.
Fish never touched milk themselves.
We had even suspected the good Fish
Of watering this quart of ours; per-
haps, being a benevolent man, he
thought that it might be too rich for
us. 1t is always right to think the very
best of people you know.
81 wish we had COW" said 1; "per-
haps Peggy could milk her if"
Halo, old fellow!' cried voice
behind me, "Been chasing you ever
since you left the train. Anyone would
know you had a pretty wife at home,
by the way you walked. I've taken
advantage of your charming invitation
and run down and stop awhile. How
do you do. Mrs. Turtledove? can see
that farm life agrees with you. by your
cheeks
And we both shook hands with Null
ligan. Fred Mulligan, whom 1 remem-
ber with a sort of qualm. put up at the
Fifth Avenue hotel as general thing,
and was one Of the most particular
man about ''his eating"
However. at least could make him
welcome. SO 1 ushered him into the
the house. spring overcoat, slender um-
brella, Russian leather travelling bag
and all, and leaving him in the parlor.
went out iuto the kitchen to open the
sardine box-Peggy had way of max
ing chowder of the sardine in the prog
ress--and to assure Mrs. Turtledove that
the small quantity of berries she had
collected would be ''plenty."
We were rather a merry party as we
sat down to tea that night. Mr.. Null
ligan and Miss Mittens had discovered
that they had met before at Saratoga,
and were already very intimate.
They complimented us in chorus.
"How delightful to be country peo-
pie, isn't ite" said Mr.. Mulligan.
"Indeed it is," said Miss Mittens.
Mature casting her most precious
things at their feet, as one may say
flowers and fruit and--breezes, you
know. l fairly pined for the country,
and I hate hotels and strange boarding
houses; SO, since actually have sis
ter in dear Mrs. Turtledove, thought
I'd throw myself on her charity for the
summer
Just as Ifelt, said Mulligan. Said
1: There is Turtledove ready to well
come me with open arms. Why not 60
to himp'
'I'm glad to be rural while am
here" said Miss Mittens. 81 don't
mean to drink tea or coffee. Imean to
live on milk and fruit here"
'.And l." said Mulligan, mo cham
pagne for me when can have milk"
1 felt very glad indeed to hear that he
did not want champagne.
But, Oh. my dear" sobbed Mrs
Turtledove, a little while after the
meal was over, catching me in quiet
corner, ito think of our first strawber-
ries. and you not to have seen even one
tiny-tonty one. The one I tried to
swallow choked me when thought of
that. And don't you think Mr.. Fish
would sell us more milk while they